Cloth Diapers Or Disposable Diapers?

For quite a few years there has been a debate among parents as to which diaper is best for their baby, cloth diapers or disposable diapers. Those who prefer disposable diapers think they are better, while those who prefer cloth diapers think these are superior. Cloth diapers do seem to be making a comeback, especially with the new flushable liners. Years ago there was no choice. Cloth diapers were the only type available.

Disposable diapers first came into existence in Sweden in 1942. However, these first disposable diapers were lined with many layers of tissue paper. It was not until the early 1960s that the tissue paper liner was replaced with pulp mill. These cellulose fibers were more comfortable, more effective, and a big improvement over the tissue paper. Pampers came on the market in 1961 and were a smash hit. Later a better non-woven, softer top sheet made of rayon was introduced for the disposable diapers. Disposable diapers were pretty expensive when they were first introduced. In the beginning the disposable diapers only were available in two sizes and the style of the disposable diaper was quite bulky. There are now a number of sizes available in the disposable diapers and the diapers have been designed so they are no longer big and bulky.

Although the disposable diapers have only been on the market since the 1960s their effect on the environment will be felt for thousands of years. This is one of the biggest issues of the debate on whether cloth or disposable diapers are better. Many believe the cloth diapers are better since the disposable diapers are not very biodegradable. With the materials used and the processing used to make the disposable diapers they can remain in landfills for about 500 years. Some countries around the world have banned leaving untreated human waste in a landfill. These countries have begun incinerating the disposable diapers and this leaves no residue.

Cloth diapers have also been improved. The cloth diapers of today are not the cloth diapers available fifty years ago. Cloth diapers today have new flushable liners. The parent can easily flush the waste down the toilet. Some cloth diapers are already shaped so they do not need to be folded. Some cloth diapers come with Velcro closure tabs so safety pins are not necessary.

When trying to determine which diaper will work best for your family the cost needs to be considered. You need to determine how many diapers you will use each month, how much you are spending on diaper service and how much water and electricity you are using to launder your cloth diapers if you are not using a diaper service. The average costs when using disposable diapers can run from approximately $50 to $80 per month. If you are using cloth diapers and a diaper service the monthly cost may be about the same as disposable diapers. If you are using cloth diapers and laundering them yourself at home the cost may be between $25 and $60 per month. Some families have determined that it works best for them if they use cloth diapers at home and the disposable diapers when they go out. You will need to determine which type diapers will work best for your family.